Port St. Lucie, FL (PRWEB) July 29, 2014
Project Lifesaver was the first organization to address the issue of protecting and recovering individuals with cognitive conditions who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering and for the past 15 years has remained the gold standard.
Recent announcements regarding Avonte's Law and Byrne Grants have raised the hopes of the caregivers of special needs individuals who tend to wander. When available, these funds will be for the express and specific purpose of training and technology for caregivers and first responders to protect, and when necessary, locate and safely return, individuals that are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering.
These funds will take time to become available and reach the people that need protection now.
Project Lifesaver has launched a national fundraising campaign on Indiegogo, Project Lifesaver International "PAL4ALL," with a goal of $2 million to help provide this life saving technology to families that need it now!
In a recent National Autism Survey, 50% of parents of children with autism reported that their child had a tendency to wander. Among these families, nearly 50% said their child went missing long enough to cause significant concern about safety.
Wandering is also a common Alzheimer's symptom and can be a major issue for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's at home. Wandering or elopement is one of the most dangerous behaviors for Alzheimer’s patients, it is estimated that 60% to 70% of all people with Alzheimer’s will wander away from safety at least once during the course of their illness.
Today’s estimated pool of wanderers is approximately 3,000,000 individuals.
Help us reach our goal of providing safer homes and communities for our most vulnerable populations. No donation is too small and even the smallest contribution will bring us one step closer to reaching the goal. Contributions are tax-deductible.
To make a donation, visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-lifesaver-international-pal4all.
To learn more about this fund raising project and how funds will be used to help make a difference through a national wandering prevention program, please view this video.
For more information on Project Lifesaver programs, visit us at http://www.projectlifesaver.org, call 1-877-580-LIFE or contact:
Joseph Salenetri
Senior Communications Advisor
josephsalenetri(at)hotmail(dot)com
609-672-1441
or
Elizabeth Kappes
Public Relations Coordinator-Special Projects
ekappes(at)projectlifesaver(dot)org
757-531-5105
About Project Lifesaver International:
oject Lifesaver is a 501 (C) (3) community based, public safety, non-profit organization that provides law enforcement, fire/rescue and other first responders with equipment and training to quickly locate and rescue individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering, including those with Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, and Down syndrome.
Project Lifesaver is a subject matter expert and advisor on the wandering issue for:
Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer’s disease (LEAD), National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Alzheimer’s Foundation, and the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and the International Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. The Project Lifesaver training program is recognized and approved by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.